Man allegedly threatened to kill victim’s family if girl told of sexual abuse

A 35-year-old man is accused of sexually abusing a now 13-year-old girl, often threatening her at knife point, several times over two years.

Dagoberto Canelas-Martinez is in custody charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child in connection with allegations that he sexually abused the victim between June 2008 and July 2010, according to a charging document filed in the Harris County District Court.

Dagoberto Canelas-Martinez (HCSO)

The suspect touched the child, who was between 9 and 11 years old at the time of the abuse, inappropriately and forced her into sexual acts when her mother wasn’t around, the document states. He often used a knife to threaten her if she did not do what he asked, she told investigators. Canelas-Martinez told the girl he would kill her whole family if she reported the abuse, the document states.

The victim’s mother confronted the suspect in July 2010, accusing him of abusing her daughter, and he assaulted her and threatened to kill her family if she continued with the allegations, the document states.

The child reported the crime to authorities in April 2012 and told investigators she waited to report the abuse because she feared for her family’s lives, the document states.